Data shows both Katy and Lamar Consolidated ISDs earned "B" ratings for the 2022-23 school year on the Texas Education Agency’s A-F system released April 24. LCISD received a score of 83 out of 100, while KISD was given an 88 out of 100.

The gist

The state’s A-F accountability system was designed in 2017 to measure student progress and preparation for the next grade level. However, the system was required to be updated in 2023, leading to over 100 Texas school districts suing TEA Commissioner Mike Morath in August 2023.

The lawsuit claimed the agency’s revamped system was “unlawful” and would unfairly harm school districts, Community Impact reported.
In a letter sent to families April 23, KISD Superintendent Ken Gregorski said he believes the scores are a “direct contradiction” to students’ academic progress, and the TEA’s approach to standardized testing and accountability don't reflect the full scope of school performance.

The details


Almost two years after the 2023 score’s scheduled release, a state appeals court ruled April 3 the TEA was allowed to release the scores under a revamped accountability system.

“Accountability works; the public issuance of ratings for school systems does positively affect the academic and life outcomes of children,” TEA Commissioner Mike Morath told reporters April 22. “We do this because it helps children. ... When we don't do it, you don't get the benefits of those public ratings, and it is very logical to then presume that performance declines as a result.”

For the 2022-23 school year, the TEA adjusted the methods of calculating the ratings to “more accurately reflect performance,” per an April 24 release from the agency. Texas schools are rated on an A-F scale based on three criteria: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps.

Digging deeper


Out of the 70 KISD campuses that received ratings:
  • 37 earned an A
  • 18 earned a B
  • 11 earned a C
  • Four earned a D
Meanwhile, out of the 42 LCISD campuses that received ratings:
  • 14 earned an A
  • 16 earned a B
  • Eight earned a C
  • Four earned a D
Districts and campuses that scored a "D" or "F" may receive extra resources and support from the state, according to the TEA website. Under state law, if at least one campus in a school district receives a failing grade for five consecutive years, the commissioner is required to close that campus or appoint a board of managers.

Here's how the two districts scored in the last five years:
However, the TEA also released “what if” ratings for the 2021-22 school year to reflect the new methodology and offer a year-over-year comparison for the 2022-23 scores.

While the final rating shows KISD dropped a letter grade, the “what if” ranking showed KISD would have received a "B," or a score of 87, in 2021-22 under the new methodology—resulting in a one-point rise between the 2022 and 2023 scores.

However, LCISD’s “what if” rating shows a two-point drop between 2022 and 2023, from 85 to 83, while maintaining a "B" rating.


What they're saying

In the letter to families, Gregorski said the district’s year-over-year decline from an “A” to a “B” was “disappointing and confusing," pointing to the district having higher student outcomes in core subjects.

“What’s changed is not the caliber of education our students are receiving—but the state’s accountability system,” Gregorski wrote. “The system simply fails to capture the full picture of the growth, dedication and successes we witness every day in our classrooms.”

Meanwhile, LCISD Chief Learning Officer Christi Cottongame said families should know the ratings aren’t based on results of State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness tests currently being administered on local campuses.


“[These] ratings do not reflect the current efforts of our teachers and staff, nor the current performance of our students,” she wrote in an emailed statement.

What’s next?

The TEA remains blocked from issuing ratings for the 2023-24 school year due to a separate lawsuit, which is pending in the state appeals court. Morath also said the TEA intends to release ratings for 2024-25 on Aug. 15, per state law.